Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
Rockies Heli Canada has been providing mountain adventures to a global clientele since 1999. The company has also catered to premium Indian travellers and MICE groups. The company has two bases in the Rockies – the Kananaskis Base and Icefields Adventure Base. Kananaskis Base is a short drive from Calgary, Canmore, and downtown Banff. “The heli tours range from a 12 minute ride to 20 minutes or an hour. Those are the base programmes. Family groups, corporates and incentive groups customise their own programming including lunch on the mountain peak. After the helicopter lands they can either go with the pilot for a short walk if its on the ridge or hike with the guide. The helicopter can pick them up from another place when the hike ends,” said John Samms, operations manager/ director of sales, Rockies Heli Canada. The activities include heli snowshoe adventure, dog sledging, white water rafting, twilight yoga, etc.
Icefields Adventure Base is located near the spectacular Icefields Parkway at Saskatchewan Crossing. “If the group is staying at Lake Louise or Jasper, they go to this base. All the glaciers are located at Columbia Icefields. You are flying right over the national parks and the glaciers. For people coming from India this is hugely unique,” stated Samms. The diverse activities include hiking, mountain-top yoga, horseback expedition, backcountry camping, exclusive heli-fishing experience, culinary adventure and much more.
One interesting trend that has emerged in recent times is yoga retreats in the Rockies. “It is a hugely popular. There are companies in Canmore with whom we can book heli retreats. These people have yoga studios so from time to time guests buy into their programme,” mentioned Samms.